My thanks to editor James E. Lewis for publishing 3 of my poems in Verse-Virtual. I’ll post them in the next 3 days, but to read all the poems in this issue, from some very fine poets, go to https://www.verse-virtual.org.

After Grandma died
I cleared out her old veneered dresser and vanity
with its huge round mirror. Slips, girdles, garters,
and seamed stockings rolled in plum-sized balls.
A nightgown I’d given her still had the tags
and tissue. She did that—saved things for “good,”
even a nightie, I guess. She kept a hoard of aprons—
stained, sturdy cotton for every day, flounced organdy
for serving guests — along with white gloves for church,
pocketbooks, and a drab felt hat with feather and veil.

When I opened the vanity’s low middle drawer,
it held a whisper of Chanel and hankies—
thirty or more—ironed, folded in half and half
again, cotton so fine it might dab away a tear
but could never tend a good cry. Hankies
with scalloped edges, embroidered pansies,
set-in lace, and for Christmas, poinsettias
and candy canes. Grandma always kept one
tucked inside her sleeve. I never saw her use it,
but she had one, just in case.